Emergency Operations Center

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EOC STAFF?

 

Emergency Policy Team (EPT)
The EPT, as the core group of senior managers knowledgeable in emergency operations, advises the SC Board of Supervisors in emergency response issues. They are responsible for all major policy decisions and overall operations. This group does NOT have responsibility for direct emergency management at the incident site(s) during emergency.

EOC Manager

The OES Emergency Management (EM) Coordinator is the EOC Manager. The EOC Manager supports all EOC operations and ensures that the facility and resources required for EOC support are provided. This position works closely with the Emergency Policy Team and ensures that proper emergency and disaster declarations are enacted and documented. The EOC Manager will set up the EOC and activate it using the positions and personnel to support field operations and accomplish the mission objectives. The EOC Manager reports directly to the OES Director and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. The EOC Manager will fill the other ICS positions as needed.

Public Information Officer

The Public Information Officer (PIO) prepares and clears all press releases, and holds all press conferences. The PIO should provide accurate, timely information to the media from the EOC. The PIO will need to ensure that the EOC Call Center is staffed appropriately and provide the public with the latest and most accurate information. The PIO will also monitor news media and social media and correct inaccuracies as soon as possible to ensure a coordinated public information message.

Safety Officer

The Safety Officer will monitor incident operations and will advise the EOC Manager and/or OES Director on all matters relating to operational safety, including the health and safety of EOC personnel and emergency responders. The safety officer is responsible for completing the safety plan as part of the Incident Action Plan (IAP).

Liaison Officer

The Liaison Officer will coordinate with other agencies in the EOC that are normally not a part of the EOC staff, such as volunteer organizations or the private sector to make sure they are incorporated into EOC operations as appropriate.

Operations Section

The Operations Section is responsible for coordinating all tactical operations in support of the emergency response. Primary responsibility is focused on reducing the immediate hazard, saving lives and property, establishing situational control and restoring normal operations.

Once the Operations Center has been activated, organizational and agency representatives will:

  1. Manage and ensure safety of tactical operations.
  2. Develop/Supervise execution of Operations portion of the Incident Action Plan (IAP).
  3. Request additional resources to support tactical operations.
  4. Approve release of resources from active operational assignments.
  5. Maintain close contact with on-scene Incident Commander(s), subordinate Operations Personnel and EOC Manager/OES Director.

Expansion of the Operations Section may be organized with a functional approach or by geographical or jurisdictional boundaries, or a combination of both.

Planning Section

The Planning Section is responsible for collecting, evaluating, and disseminating information; developing Incident Action Plans (IAP’s); develop and display situation reports in coordination with other functions; and for maintaining all EOC documentation.

Primary functions of the Planning Section are:

  1. Collect, evaluate and disseminate all incident relevant information.
  2. Prepare Incident Action Plan (IAP).
  3. Conduct/facilitate Planning Meetings.
  4. Compile and display incident status information.
  5. Establish status reporting schedules for units.
  6. Determine need for specialized resources.
  7. Assemble and disassemble Task Forces and Strike Teams not assigned to Operations.
  8. Reassign out-of-service personnel within the ICS organization, as appropriate.
  9. Establish specialized data collection systems as necessary (weather, GIS, etc.)
  10. Assemble information on alternative strategies.
  11. Provide periodic predictions on incident potential.
  12. Report significant changes in the incident status.
  13. Preparation of the Demobilization Plan.

The Planning Section may be expanded to include up to four (4) primary units as well as technical specialists to assist in evaluating the situation, developing planning options and forecasting requirements for additional resources. These Units are:

  1. Resources Unit: Responsible for recording the status of resources committed to the incident. This Unit also evaluates resources currently committed to the incident, the effects of additional responding resources will have on the incident, and anticipated resource needs.
  2. Situation Unit: Responsible for the collection, organization and analysis of incident status information and for analysis of the situation as it progresses.
  3. Demobilization Unit: Responsible for ensuring orderly, safe and efficient demobilization of incident resources.
  4. Documentation Unit: Responsible for collecting, recording and safeguarding all documents relevant to the incident.
Logistics Section

The Logistics Section is responsible for providing facilities, services, personnel, equipment, and materials needed to facilitate effective and efficient incident management. Primary functions of the Logistics Section are:

  1. Provide all facilities, transportation, communications, supplies, equipment maintenance and fueling, food, and medical supplies for incident personnel and all off-incident resources.
  2. Identify anticipated and known incident service and support requirements.
  3. Request additional resources as needed.
  4. Development of Traffic, Medical and Communications Plans as required.
  5. Oversee demobilization of Logistics Section and associated resources.

The Logistics Section may be expanded to include up to six (6) primary units to fulfill functional requirements. The Units are:

  1. Supply Unit: Orders, receives, stores, and processes all incident-related resources, personnel and supplies.
  2. Ground Support Unit: Provides all ground transportation during an incident. In conjunction with providing transportation, the Unit is also responsible for maintaining and supplying vehicles, keeping usage records and developing incident Traffic Plans.
  3. Facilities Unit: Sets up, maintains and demobilizes all facilities used in support of incident operations. The Unit also provides facility maintenance and security services required to support incident operations.
  4. Food Unit: Determines food and water requirements, plans menus, orders food, provides cooking facilities, cooks, serves, maintains food service areas, and manages food security and safety concerns.
  5. Communications Unit: Major responsibilities include effective communications planning as well as acquiring, setting up, maintaining and accounting for communications equipment.
  6. Medical Unit: Responsible for the effective and efficient provision of medical services to incident personnel.
Finance/Administration Section

The Finance/Admin Section is responsible for financial activities and other administrative aspects of the EOC not covered by other sections or units. Primary Functions of the Finance/Administration Section are:

  1. Manage all financial aspects of the incident.
  2. Provide financial and cost analysis information as requested.
  3. Ensure compensation and claims functions are being addressed relative to the incident.
  4. Determine the need to set up and operate an incident commissary.
  5. Meet with assisting and cooperating Agency Representatives as needed.
  6. Ensure that personnel time records are completed accurately and transmitted to home agencies.
  7. Ensure that all obligation documents initiated at the incident are properly prepared and completed.
  8. Brief agency administrative personnel on all incident-related financial issues needing attention or follow-up.

The Finance/Administration Section may be expanded to include up to four (4) primary units to fulfill functional requirements. The Units are:

  1. Compensation/Claims Unit: Responsible for financial concerns resulting from property damage, injuries or fatalities at the incident.
  2. Cost Unit: Responsible for tracking costs, analyzing cost data, making estimates and recommending cost savings measures.
  3. Procurement Unit: Responsible for financial matters concerning vendor contracts.
  4. Time Unit: Responsible for recording time for incident personnel and hired equipment.
Emergency Support Functions

Schoharie County utilizes the established 15 Emergency Support Functions (ESF) as outlined in the SC CEMP, Emergency Operations (Response) Plan. Each ESF is assigned a lead county department or office that is responsible for contacting and managing their respective support staff. Each ESF lead is responsible for ensuring that the ESF is fully operational for the emergency. The EOC Manager in consultation with the OES Director will determine which ESF’s will be activated at the time of the emergency.

Support Roles

Schoharie County EOC will need additional support staff to assist in administrative functions and call center staffing. County Departments without an essential function in emergency have agreed to reassign personnel as needed to the EOC. Determination for support staff assistance will be made by the EOC Manager in consultation with the OES Director.